Colorado Springs.
Early this morning I wandered down the street, looking for something to do. I noticed a man I hadn’t met yet and we greeted one another. “Gorgeous morning, ain’t it?”
“Indeed it is,” he looked up at the sky and then looked back at me. “Names Jon Kanto. Me and my Missus just moved to the area.”
I nodded and reached out to shake his hand. “Pleasure to meet you. Trin Paige. I just moved here myself...”
He shook my hand firmly and nodded, “Ah, I see. It seems to be a booming place.”
“Well, mighty quiet at the moment but...” I chuckled. “Is nice to run into another friendly face though, I must say.”
“Folks not friendly hereabouts?” he tilted his head to the side.
“Ain’t that, Sir... Just haven’t met a lot of folks yet. The ones I’ve met sure are friendlier than from where I came though.”
“Where did you hail from?” he asked and I looked down, not wanting to remember but I knew my past would follow me wherever I went. “Don’t mean to pry Miss,” he frowned.
I considered forgetting about Amiville and telling him I was from Texas, which was sort of true, but I didn’t want to start off a friendship with a lie. “I recently moved over from Amiville, Sir. But originally from Texas.”
“Been down Texas way, mostly in the panhandle. Me, I’m from Kentucky originally, after the war me and Maura, my Missus, we started wandering.”
“I’m looking forward to hopefully meeting your wife one day?”
“Let’s hope its not a professional basis. My Maura is a saw bones. She is pretty good at patching folks up and healing illnesses and all.”
“Well with my line of work I may need a healer one of these days.”
“Really? What do ya do?” he raised an eyebrow.
“I’m a Private Investigator, Sir. Used to be a detective over in Amiville. Decided to go into business for myself and work for no one but the people, if’n ya know what I mean.”
He frowned slightly but then nodded. “So you one of the Pinkertons are ya?”
“No sir,” I shook my head. “Completely on my own, I promise you that. I just want to help people... Get the truth and keep them safe if I can. If not, I still have connections from Amiville that I can call on in the instance I need them.”
“Good to hear, never had any use for the Pinkertons.”
“I’m curious Sir, why your dislike for that group?” I asked, remembering my original plan of investigating the Pinkertons and if now would be a better time to start up that project.
He was quiet a moment and then said, “Well, during the war I fought for the South. Them Pinkertons was charged with going after some of us boys after the war. Something about what we done was not legal, according to the carpet baggers. I think them damn yankees just didn’t like that we gave em such a hard time during the fight.”
“Did they come after you specifically, Sir?” I asked, wondering if he would want me to investigate the matter myself.
“If they are, they ain’t caught up to me yet. But they did go after some friends of mine. Hung em without so much as a howdy do.”
I shook my head in disgust and asked, “Sir you don’t perchance have any names of these Pinkerton folks, do you?”
“No, fraid not. And I don’t wanna know any of em neither,” he shook his head.
I nodded, somewhat disappointed. “I understand, Sir. You probably want to leave that part of your life behind you.”
“We all got troubles we would rather sooner forget I reckon,” he said and I nodded with a sigh, knowing that fact all too well. I tried not to let the past cloud my vision of the present but it was hard.
“Miss Trin, it has been a pleasure to meet ya. But I gotta get back to my camp or my Missus will think I am up to no good again,” he grinned a bit.
“Alright then. Well, you be sure to introduce the two of us sometime soon! And it has been all my pleasure, Mr. Kanto.”
“I will do that, I think you will like Maura. Be seein ya soon,” he waved and I watched him ride off, wondering where this investigations of the Pinkertons would take me.
I rode around town to see who I could find and saw Jade and Chane talking. Jade was asking, “Were the saloons still burnin’?”
“Burnin’!?” I looked at her with shock.
“Yes’m saloon got set on fire. With me in it.”
“Hell, amiville’s dry as a desert well... salloon’s gone,” Chane shook his head.
“Wha?!” I blinked. “Oh my goodness...”
“I ‘bout died. Pa says I quit breathin’.”
“Do they know who did it? Was anyone else hurt?”
“Yep, Jade here fainted from tha smoke,” Chane said.
“Oh Jade...”
“Not fainted, had me an attack,” Jade said. “I gots a lung condition, they calls it athsma. Pa got burnt pretty bad. Clif got it too and several others.”
“Oh my...”
“There was a Masquerade ball goin on when it happened.”
“Some say it was some soul driver feller... seen one hangin’ around tellin’ us we wuz all goin’ ta hell,” Chane said and I looked at him with interest.
“The guy set all the exits on fire so we couldn’t get out,” Jade went on. “And of course with my lungs.. an the smoke....”
“Who on earth would....” I started to say but then had a good guess who was involved. “Did they get the arsonist?”
“Wonder nobudy was kilt,” Chane said and then shrugged as Jade went into another coughing fit. “Don’t thank so. You alrat Jade?”
“I’ll be alright, just leftover side effects,” Jade said.
“You better sit down darlin’,” he said and she gasped, looking a bit pale.
“Gramps... Was Gramps hurt?” I asked.
“I don’t think so,” she shook her head. “I didn’t see him in the clinic.”
“Naw, he left before it happened,” Chane answered.
“Thank God... I bet that clinic had never seen so many people before.”
“Pa was bunt bad an still had to get me breathin again. Figures I jest get walkin again an somethin happens,” Jade muttered.
I thought to myself how this would have been a great front page article and for a moment regretted leaving the way I did. I thought about how many people I had left and sighed.
“They said they gonna build a new one though,” Chane said.
“I’m sure... That place ain’t gonna function without one.”
Chane and I decided to head to the saloon in Colorado Springs. I told Jade to say hi to her father for me and we walked to the saloon where I reached for the bottle of whiskey. We walked around town after a drink and then headed to my place.
I saw something over near the telegram machine and stopped in my tracks. I reached for Chane’s arm, suddenly nervous.
“Whus wrong?” he asked.
“Chane... The name on the telegram machine... Look who sent that last telegram.”
“Don’t know ‘im. LebronBlack?”
“Have you ever heard of Levi Black?”
“Oh!”
“That’s his brother.. One of them.”
“Yep, heard of ‘im.”
“His brother was here... In my office... Two days ago...” I started to panic.
“Ahhhh... he an outlaw too?” he asked and I nodded, too afraid to speak. “Well, this ain’t yer problem is it?”
“There was a warrant out on him in Amiville. We were looking for them and...
“So who do ya giv this here message to?”
“I... I don’t... Logan, I guess... Or Trax...”
“Hell, let me take it...”
“Chane, no... I don’t want you getting caught up in this.”
“I’ll take um the supplies... see whus goin’ on.”
“But Chane this was from two days ago... They’ll be long gone by then...”
“Well, thangs take time.”
“Damn it, I can’t believe I missed this.”
“Well, wait n’see if they send another. Can ya respond?”
“I’ll send a wire for Jake Despres and Chels. They need to know about this..”
“Well, if ya thank ya need to.”
“I don’t think we have much choice, Chane. We have to let someone know.”
“Well, do whut ya thank best.”
I sent a telegram to the marshals and then noticed Chane had left. I went to sit in front of the office and saw a woman passing by.
“Hello Miss,” she greeted.
“Good morning, Ma’am. Beautiful day, ain’t it?”
“It’s a nice day for a stroll. Oh my yes just beautiful.”
“Indeed,” I tried to act calm though I was nervously waiting for Jake and Chels to arrive.
“Is it always so peaceful here?” she asked and I nodded. “Might have to settle here.”
“Indeed... I decided to, Just moved here a few days ago and am loving it so far.”
“My name is Trin Paige, by the way.”
“Please to meet you Trin, I’m Ari Canningham.”
“Pleasure to meet you!”
“Likewise.”
“Canningham... Any relation to a Bo?”
“Oh yes he would be the big brother. And a stubborn one at that.”
“I know him somewhat... Only spoken to him a few times but seems like a nice fellow.”
“Well some ladies thinks he is a bit of a charmer.”
“I haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing that side of him yet,” I chuckled.
“Well give him time you will.”
“If you say so. Where is that fated brother of yours?”
“Well he left town for the day.”
“Oh did he? Busy man that one.”
“That he is.”
“If you’ll excuse me, Miss... I need to check and see if a telegram has come in for me. Hopefully I will see you again soon.”
“Okay you have a good day miss Trin.”
“Safe paths,” I said and walked inside. I sat down and saw the telegram from Jake, sending him one back and telling him about the message to my machine from Lebron. I went to my desk and tried to write notes, staying as calm as I could.
It wasn’t long before I heard noises outside and went to open my door, walking out. “Jake, Chels... Thank God.”
“We came as fast as we could,” Jake turned towards me.
“You got disturbing news?” Daisy asked.
“Thanks for coming so quickly.”
“So you saw a Black?” Chels asked.
I shook my head and said, “Lebron sent a message to my telegraph machine. It’s still there if you want to see it.”
“We sure would,” Jake nodded and looked around.
“I know there was still a warrant on him when I left Amiville...”
“So he was spotted on a message?” Chels looked confused.
“Come and look,” I said.
“Mind if I come too?” Daisy asked.
“Is up to the marshals,” I said and headed into the office. Jake said she could enter and I stood back while Daisy offered to back me up with a gun if she needed to.
Jake read the telegram and blinked, muttering, “Bullets and dynamite?”
“Ya’ll know what that could be about?”
“Bear River...” Jake said, writing something down. “That’s where they sent it from... But yes, since it’s some days ago I don’t think we will find them up there... Might have to check that out Miss Trin.”
“I didn’t even notice it until today. I’ve been so focused on getting things set up around here and I’ve already had a couple of cases to deal with... So if I come in here I go straight from upstairs to outside and don’t even think about stuff down here.”
“They never stay in one place to long...from the trail they have left behind,” Chels commented.
“Are they looking for you, Trin?” Daisy asked.
“He might not have even intended for me to see this specifically... Could have just been a telegraph sent to Col Springs...” I said.
“I don’t think they are looking for Trin, Miss Daisy,” Chels said.
“I don’t know if this message was sent to your office by mistake, but if I were you I’d keep an eye on the messages in the next couple of weeks to see if they would send ya more,” Jake instructed.
“I sure will. If I see anything suspicious I’ll let you know immediately.”
“Yeah, we’ve learned they travel around the country and raise hell... They gunned down Sheriff Loudwater a week ago over in Nevada,” Jake nodded.
“I just figured no one knew I was here all week so didn’t give it much thought, the machine that is.”
“Well that machine has been here for awhile...we were here when it was set up,” Chels said.
The door opened and Adder walked in and we greeted him.
“I wonder if this message was sent before Miss Trin took over this Office?” Jake rubbed his neck.
“There’s the groom to be... Don’t you have a wedding to be at today?” I winked at Adder.
“Nope, that’s tomorrow.”
“I’ve been here since before that message was sent,” I told Jake.
“I’m surprised ya never noticed it,” Chels smiled.
“I told ya... I haven’t paid much attention as I’ve been in and out with a couple serious cases already. And getting things set up; I never really thought anyone would send me a telegraph.”
“Alright, hmm...” Jake said and looked at the machine again. “Well we’d better stay on our toes then... I thought hangin’ their brother would have scared them away, but it sounds like they are gettin’ ammo and dynamite to maybe get back at the people responsible for their brother’s death.”
“Sounds like a party,” Adder commented.
“Take a look at the telegraph machine, Taurus,” I directed him to the machine.
“Well I was just following orders to hang him,” Chels sighed.
“Yep, definitely sounds like a party,” Adder commented.
“Yeah, but I’m not sure they would see it that way...” Jake nodded to her.
“Judge Clif was there the whole time, you were just doing your job” I nodded to Chels.
“I reckon his life might be in danger too then,” Jake looked around.
“That I was... I even managed to get my money and ring back from him,” Chels nodded.
“If they come after you, Chelsey, we can have us another hanging,” Daisy said.
“Something Clif said after the hanging tells me he already knows that,” Adder commented.
I looked at him with curiosity and said, “We need to talk to Clif.”
“Oh? What are ya talkin’ about Adder?” Jake raised an eyebrow.
“When those dumb ingrates were berating us all after hanging Levi, he said something about not lasting a week... Sounded to me like he expects the other two to come looking for him,” Adder said.
“That’s what it sounds like to me too. I remember him saying that now that you mention it,” I nodded.
“I see... Well we did hope they would leave us alone knowin’ what would happen to them too if they got caught, but now it seems like they won’t,” Jake nodded.
“Would you if you were them?” Adder asked.
“Of course they won’t, Jake. I thought the same thing at the hanging... I knew that wasn’t gonna be the end of it with two brothers still out there,” I said.
“Probably not...” Jake leaned back against the counter and folded his arms across his chest.
“Unless they have someone spying for them, they would have no idea who ordered the hanging and who did it,” Chels said.
“And they wouldn’t know that I’ve moved to Colorado Springs,” I said.
“Oh but the WHOLE town saw the hangin’... Everyone knows,” Jake looked at Chels. “It wasn’t a private execution.”
“So who knows why they sent it to my office..” I shrugged.
“Wasn’t it in the paper?” Daisy asked.
“It was gonna be... but we never printed out that last issue. I left town before I had to print it.”
“Well, I know for a fact at least one member of that dear little town was feeding info to Bill for a while. Makes sense the Blacks will have someone there too,” Adder said.
“This is the telegraph Office Trin, so of course they would send one here as they probably do to other town,” Chels said.
“Hmm, those bastards seem to always be one step ahead of us...” Jake sighed.
“Well then Bill probably told ‘em I left town,” I sighed.
“Or Cathy,” Daisy said.
“And Cathy was at the hanging,” Adder pointed out.
“Wouldn’t surprise me either,” I looked over at Daisy.
“She’s been around a lot looking all sweet and innocent,” Daisy said.
“Oh my...” I nodded then. “I saw Cathy ride through town the other day. I was sitting out front of the office here. I wonder if...”
“Sounds like it. I been wondering why she changed out of her fighting togs,” Daisy said.
“We’d better notify Clifton...” Jake said and looks to me, nodding towards the machine. “Will you write Amiville or shall I?”
“Go for it,” I nodded to Jake and looked over at Adder with concern as he wrote up the telegram.
“Logan and Jake need a heads up too. They were part of bringing him in,” Adder pointed out.
“I agree, Adder,” I nodded.
Jake sent out the message and then looked around. “Now we can only wait and see if Mr. Brendan delivers the message to Clifton...”
“You’re right... We should warn them,” Jake narrowed his eyes.
“I can stop by Logan’s place in Amiville,” Adder offered.
“Perhaps we should all meet together in Kingsley and discuss this together?” I suggested.
“That would be good, thanks,” Jake nodded to Adder and looked at me. “Yeah, once we gather more information and can meet up with Clifton I think we should.”
“Miss Trin, do you need employees?” Jake looked between Daisy and me.
“Employees for...?” I asked then remembered the post office cover. “Oh right, yes, to run the telegraph machine you mean?”
“This place... Someone to help ya here in Colorado Springs. Yes, among other things”
“You interested?” I looked over at her.
“I got me a job, remember?” Daisy asked. “I don’t mind coming along to shoot up them outlaws, though.”
“Well it would be helpful if you could help Miss Trin solve this case and also be a steady gun if the Black’s would show up and try to get her,” Jake chuckled.
“It ain’t too steady but it blows great big holes,” Daisy said.
“I bet it does!” Jake laughed.
“I doubt if the blacks even know who she is,” Chels muttered about me.
“Remember I shot one of ‘em down when we had all three in our cells that time?” I looked at her.
“Can’t remember who it was but we dragged ‘em all over, me and Brendan.”
“No, I don’t remember that at all,” Chels shook her head.
“The day they... escaped...” I looked down.
Daisy and Logan headed out of the office and I looked between Jake and Chels when it was just the three of us. “I wanted you both to know something... I’m running a Private Investigator business upstairs. For the people in Colorado Springs. I’ve got a few cases going right now and may need your help down the road.”
“I see... Kinda like you did back in Amiville?” Jake nodded.
“Ya’ll know how much I loved being a detective... I was going stir crazy without anything to do so I decided to go into business myself. I use the post office as a cover. Yes, exactly. ‘cept I don’t have to report to anyone now and I can pick the cases I want to investigate.”
“I see, that’s good... And you were mighty good at it. You on any cases now?”
“Thanks Jake,” I smiled. “Yeah, a couple possible ones that could turn dangerous... Things are quiet for now but I’ve got a feelin about ‘em. If I need you though... at least I know how to send you a telegraph now, right?” I winked.
“I see... I would strongly recommend you made a dairy to keep a hidden place that only you and a few close friends knows about... In that way if you suddenly go missin’ they would be able to read about your last where about and know what cases you were workin’ on,” Jake advised.
“Trin, to do detective work and other things you can’t show fear, like I told you way back when...people sense it and play on it,” Chels said.
“That’s good... It’s a wonderful device,” Jake said and nodded to Chels, “That’s right...”
“I’ve been keeping a journal of my cases and when I meet people,” I nodded.
“Good..”
“Guess I should get to writing about this case, eh? Seems the Black Brothers ain’t through yet.”
“Yeah, you should... We’ll go check out Bear River.”
“You’re right, Chels... I can’t show them fear. Okay, let me know what you find.”
“Alright, we will...” Jake nodded.
“Take care, you two. And thanks again.”
“You take care as well Trin,” Chels said.
“You too... Be safe,” Jake said and they walked out of the office.
I walked down the street and waved to Amelia standing in front of her store. “How did things go with your father last night?”
“Come, let’s have coffee and sit and talk.”
“Sounds serious... everything alright?”
“Well....”
“Your store looks great!” I said as I followed her in.
“Thank you much been busy last night.”
“Oh? Well that’s good to hear,” I said and sat down on one of the chairs.
“Have a seat let me get some tea or coffee.”
“Ah yes, coffee would be great.”
“Sorry I haven’t gotten everything yet put I do have some wonderful mint tea,” She said from the kitchen.
“No problem. That sounds good too. So it was busy here last night you say?”
“No I was busy fixin up the place and decorating and such,” she said.
“Well it does look great.”
“While my Frank was building and makin furniture. So I’m out side last night putting lights up and such, making it look pretty for ya’ll.”
I nodded and drank my tea, having a feeling more information was coming.
“And this man on a black horse rides up and speaks. Scared the boots off my feet, I didn’t hear him.”
“Oh goodness!”
“So he speaks...” she started and changed her voice to a lower voice and said, “‘Howdy ma’am.’ I said, ‘How do, Sir?’ My Lord, I tell you my heart was pounding, summin didn’t feel right at all.”
“Oh I can imagine!”
“He asked me what am I doin out this late. I say ‘Well I’m decorating the new restaurant that may open in the morning.’ He scratches his chin with a evil grin and say to me, ‘Is this yo restaurant?’ I say, ‘Well no sir I’m just helping out.’ Then he looks really suspicious. So I kinda back up and say ‘Well let me finish cuz I’m gettin a chill’. I didn’t want to call Frank down n such cuz I didn’t want no trouble or anything happen to him. So the man say, ‘do you have any coins so he can rent a room down the way?’ I say, ‘Well naw sir, I ain’t got nothing.’”
“A little too many questions if ya ask me...”
“He tells me, ‘Be a good girl’ and he knew I had some. So I say ‘Yes sir, I am a good girl but I ain’t got nothing, I promise.’ So I tell him, ‘I must be getting back.’ He says ‘Gettin’ back where?’ I thought about saying ‘home’ or callin’ Frank but I thought if I just let him go then I would be fine. So I tell him, ‘Get back to decorating this place.’ He asks if it’s mine. I say ‘naw sir.’ He says, ‘Well, thanks for the information. We be coming back tomorrow.’ Then says, ‘Have a god night, ma’am. I say, ‘okay bye.’ I watched him ride around the bend and I ran upstairs so fast, you thought a dog was after me.”
“I can imagine,” I nodded.
“When I got in the house Frank ain’t heard nothing, so I sat and had a few shot of whiskey, more like three. Frank kept askin’ me whats wrong, I kept saying nothing. So he put his hammer down and held me and felt me tremble and made me tell him.”
“Oh my...”
“So I told him and he didn’t like that at all, then me and frank got into something else, like another conversation. Well Trin.... I had to tell him what you and pa thought.”
“Oh? Pa thought it too?”
“And he say he happy and if so I had to have it. Yes ma’am.”
“Well I’m glad that he’s happy about the idea.”
“Pa thinks it too.”
“I agree, Amelia. As long as your father and Frank agree to be there for you.”
“Miss Trin, I ain’t got no idea ‘bout carrying no youngin’.”
“Oh Amelia, you’ll be just fine. You love your students, you’re very good with children...”
“Well I ain’t talk to pa about it he just asked me if I was, but I ain’t tell him. Well that teaching and caring fo them, not carrying them.”
“You haven’t seen a doctor yet have you?”
“Naw she aint here yet, and I don’t want to go to Amiville. Why so he can have reason to look for that thang of a woman? We doing jus fine here. I don’t intend on messin up my nice life fo him to be like pa. Whew lard if last night wasn’t nerve recking I don’t want to meet the day that it would be.”
“I don’t blame you for not wanting to go to Amiville. I did see Ida in town this morning though...”
“Only times I went there was to shop, but seeing how frank got the general store now no need fo me to be going there no mo, my prob go to another town fo other stuff n such. I hope doctor come to town soon so I can get this ova with.”
“I hope you don’t have to go to another town... I would miss you around here too much.”
“Miss Trin I sho appreciate you sittin and talking with me.”
“Of course, Amelia. Sometimes all we need is a friendly ear.”
“Naw lawd I ain’t leaving here. I call dis home, pa can’t get me from here even if he tied me up and put me on his horse.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“I met a native yesterday as well.”
“Oh yeah? Which one?”
“Very nice young man. He go by the name I thank Shaylee. He from Cheyenne. Don’t remember the name he say.”
“I haven’t met him yet.”
“He was ridin with his sister, guess showing her how to ride. Trynna figure out what else imma decorate this place, like picture n such.”
Pictures of teapots and such would be appropriate. With food and stuff. Well Amelia I should head out and get to the office. You’re going to be okay here for a while?”
I said goodbye to her and headed out to my office. I saw that there was no new messages on the telegraph machine and walked back outside. I realized I still had more questions for Amelia and went back to ask her for a description of the scary man. She said he had one eye and I said that should make it easier to find him. I went to the sheriff’s office and dropped a note in his mailbox, hoping whoever the sheriff was would receive it soon.
Mr. Toll walked by and we talked a while about how he found a teacher lady with his neighbor. He said it was the woman who taught children and I shook my head as he continued to comment on her beauty.
I went back to my office and sat in front of the window. A while later I saw Amelia and a man walking out of the store across the street.
“Honey, are you cross with me?” the man was asking.
“No dear,” Amelia turned and walked back inside.
I considered going to see if everything was okay and then went to my office. After giving them a few minutes I went back to her apartment and knocked on her door. “Amelia?”
She opened the door and welcomed me inside. “Hello sir,” I greeted him with a suspicious look.
“Dear, you met Miss Trin, right?” Amelia said to him.
“Hello miss,” the man nodded.
“Don’t believe we’ve met, Amelia,” I said.
“Trin, this is my sweetie Frank. Frank, this is a good friend of mine. Miss Trin.”
“Miss Trin, even,” Frank commented.
“She helped me with pa last night, when he was drunk,” Amelia said.
“Hello Frank,” I nodded to him.
“She used to be in Amiville, now she here away from the riff raff.”
“Oh that is good,” he looked at me with relief.
“She kinda knew the love of your life,” Amelia looked at him coldly.
“Well, not sure about how far away I’m...” I started but then hesitated.
“Trin I talk to doctor Ida,” Amelia said.
“Did you?”
“Yes, she thinks like you and pa.”
“Does she?”
“Yup.”
“Have you been able to confirm.. uh... medically?”
“Have a seat miss Trin, you like a drink?”
“Naw she say she want to make an appointment, and test me.”
“I would love a drink, Amelia. Somethin’ strong. It’s been a long day.”
She put a glass down and poured me some whiskey and Frank looked at Amelia. “Honey?”
“Yes, dear?” Amelia looked at him.
“You know how I like to have a drink before dinner?”
“I do, yes I know.”
“Well I recognized Trin here, I saw her dancing once at the Saloon in Amiville. When I went in for a drink. That’s how we have met before.”
“Okay...” Amelia looked at him with curiosity.
“Lots come in and out of that saloon, Sir. Sorry to not recognize you. But either way I’m sure it’s a pleasure seeing you again.”
“I am glad to hear that you did find better paying work Miss Trin.”
“At the post office? Yes, better work...” I looked at him, wondering how much Amelia had told him. “I should be meeting with the sheriff tomorrow, by the way.”
“Anyhow that’s all Honey, I just wanted you to know that we had met before in case it came up. So you didn’t get suspicious about anything later,” Frank said.
“Oh really? That’s great,” Amelia sat down and smiled at me. He looked between us then and asked,
“Why would I get suspicious dear?”
“Well Trin, I told sheriff about the one eye man earlier right before he tried to rob the saloon,” Amelia said.
“Oh I didn’t think you would but some women do. A woman once got mad at me for getting out of the tub and into bed without warning her I was about to do it once,” Frank said. “Some ladies I just can’t understand.”
“He tried to rob the saloon?!” I blinked.
“Huh? Hold on here. I think everyone is confused,” Frank looked around.
“Oh yes, while we was there, it was me Coral, the sheriff and the native Mr. Shane,” Amelia said.
“Oh my Amelia! What happened?”
“Confused about what dear?” Amelia looked at him. “Sorry Trin...”
“So we were right about him all along hmm?” I asked.
“Well he came to the restaurant, while me miss Coral and Shane was there. Coral left and shane and I decided to go see the sheriff. When we make it to the sheriff office, the one eye man is there.”
“Oh I guess it’s just me that is confused as usual. please continue with your story,” Frank said and I chuckled a bit.
“Coral decides to invite everyone to the saloon. So sheriff and I stay back. I asked if he had eaten he say no so we go to the restaurant and get left overs to take to the saloon. We walk in and I put the food down. Once everyone gets comfy and laughing, this man stand on the bar, pulls up his shot gun and say ‘Give me all the money and everyone on the ground.’ LAWD I COULD HAVE DIED!” she cried. “I jumped to the floor and crawled to the corner and Coral say ‘Shoot me cuz I ain’t giving you no money.’ I pray and tell Coral, ‘Please give him the money.’ Sheriff stood up with my mayor. hey pulls they guns out and tell him to drop it. He held his gun and sheriff say, ‘Drop or I will shoot. Last warning.’ Then Shane stood up and helped, so the man runs out the door. They chase him in the road and shoots. BANG BANG BANG, I covered my ears and prayed really hard.”
“Wow...” I shook my head.
“The man gets hit in the leg and they drag him to jail. Kicker of this here was miss Ida comes with her daughter or friend and he knew her. He knew miss Ida and kept callin her friend and bond him out and such.”
“If I was to rob a salloon, of course I never would, but I would do it politely. ‘OK Folk No cause for alarm. I have a gun here, but just be very kind and place all your valuables in the hat’. Then I’d walk around collecting and telling each one thank you and smiling sweetly at the ladies,” Frank laughed.
“Oh really? The one eyed man knew Ida?” I blinked.
“Yes ma’am.”
“I wonder... did you ever hear the man’s name, Amelia?’
“Yes, let me think.... S...... Let me see...”
“Wait wait... she took him out of the jail to the clinic to look at him? Was she accompanied by law at least?” I asked.
Honey I think I am feeling a little hungry. What did you cook for me today?” Frank asked.
“Shhh shhh oh lord on the tip of my tongue... I made chicken with mashed potatoes and corn with bread. Want it now dear?”
“Well after you finish your conversation. No sense interrupting,” Frank said though I thought to myself he already had.
“SANTOS THAT IT!!” Amelia blinked.
“Santos?” I looked at her.
“His name. Santos.”
“First name or last name?” I asked, wondering why that name sounded so familiar.
“Don’t know.”
“Just Santos?”
“That’s all I heard his name to be.” She stood to get a plate of food and placed it on the table for Frank.
“So this man Santos... He is still in jail?”
“Yes he is thank God. They did such a wonderful job at taking him down today. Trin would you like some?”
“I couldn’t eat...” I shook my head, thinking about the afternoon I had and wondered where Chane was.
“Aww hush now. When the last time you ate?”
I tried to think and Amelia put a plate of food in front of me. We began to eat our dinner and I ate away at the pie, avoiding the chicken. I became lost in my thoughts as I ate and then when we’d finished, I thanked them for the food and headed home. I wrote notes about Santos and the incident in the saloon today and tried to make sense of it all.
This evening, I walked into the saloon and saw Frank and Amelia talking with Ida. We talked about how she was working in Colorado Springs now. She headed home and then Mr. Day came into the saloon and slammed the doors behind him. He went over to greet his daughter and I wondered how it would go with him meeting Frank for the first time. Amelia was afraid, but Frank and Mr. Day shook each other’s hands. He pulled him close and whispered something to him and then stepped back, smiling. Amelia begged for a drink but I told her we had to wait until we knew for sure. I listened to them talk but my mind was more focused on my own worries about the Black Brothers.
Logan came in then and I greeted him. Mr. Day had just suggested he would spank his daughter if she didn’t come home with him and Frank was insistent that Amelia wasn’t going anywhere.
“Good timing as always, Callaghan,” I winked at him.
“What is all of that about?” Logan whispered as the others continued to argue.
“Amelia wants to stay here with frank who she loves but her father wants to take her home,” I
whispered to him. “But Logan, I need to talk to you about something too...”
“Help me! I need water!” we heard a shout suddenly from outside. “Someone can hear me? Water please!”
“Whoever that is, he can find a horse trough,” Logan shrugged and I chuckled, agreeing with him.
“You sir may not have known love, but I love her, would die for her, would protect her, with everything, and to take her home would kill her spirit, the same is as if she was dead. I will not let this happen, you will not take her home,” Frank was saying to Mr. Day and I noticed Amelia shaking with fear.
“Be humans! Water, please!” the voice shouted again.
“Amelia, you alright?” I wrapped my arm around her, looking to Logan with worry.
“I’ll go shut him up...” Logan sighed.
“Thanks, Logan,” I nodded and watched him run out of the saloon. Amelia, meanwhile, had tears in her eyes and I held her close.
Mr. Day put his hands on his sidearms and spoke in Spanish as he asked, “You really willing to die for her?”
“Logan!” I shouted, putting my hand on my gun.
“More so I am willing to live for her, and only die if I must to protect her,” Frank declared.
Amelia ran to his side and I called, “Amelia, no!”
“Papi no, don’t!” Amelia cried.
Logan came back in and hurried over to Amelia, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Miss, you might want to step out of their way...”
Day took his hands away from his guns and I breathed a bit easier. “Logan if everything’s alright here, can we go talk in my office?”
“Of course Miss Paige,” he nodded.
Frank extended his hand to Mr. Day and Day said in Spanish, “Be warned though, just as much as you may be willing to protect her, I am more so and have more practice.”
“We’ll be across the road if you need us, Amelia,” I said and led Logan across the road. I walked over to the telegraph machine and found the telegraph fromo Lebron. “Logan, I want to show you something down here.”
He read it over and asked, “More bullets?”
“I just noticed this today... I guess he sent it two days ago to this office... I’ve been in and out with cases and with... that situation...” I pointed to the saloon. “I just looked at the machine today and noticed the name on the telegraph. Logan, he sent it here for a reason. I don’t think it’s coincidence that this is where I’m living now and this is where he sent the message.”
“But why would he be targeting you?”
I nodded and walked upstairs, leading the way. “You remember that day when Brendan and I dragged the three black brothers into the cells... the day they escaped?”
“Mmhmm...”
“He knows of me... he wouldn’t have been happy with that to begin with... Then we hang his brother Levi without a trial... I was there watching that too...”
“Yes, but he’s not going to come get you simply for watching.”
“Adder said that Bill and the Black brothers often talked... Then the other day I was sitting outside and saw Cathy riding by... She knew I was here, knew I lived here... She could have told Bill that I live here now and he could’ve sent Lebron to send me a message to scare me.”
“Have you told local law?”
“I sent Sheriff Sakelton a note in his mailbox about another matter, wanting to meet with him asap... I haven’t heard from him since.”
“Hmm...”
“I sent a telegraph to Jake and Chels...”
“You know I can’t do anything out here. It’s out of my jurisdiction.”
“They came and talked to me, Adder was here... Jake suggested maybe the Black brothers were getting revenge for the hanging.. Said they might be targeting everyone who was there.”
“I got a note under my door from Adder saying that I needed to watch my back in case they come around.”
“He said he would contact you.”
“Well, I’m thinking about getting a disguise together. Maybe you ought to consider doing that also.”
I looked at him with a sigh, “They already know I live here, Logan. What’s to hide now?”
“Well then I suppose that we are all doomed because they know where we all live.”
“Are we over-reacting, Logan?” I sighed.
“I think so.”
“I mean the telegraph was sent two days ago... they could be anywhere by now... If they wanted to do something they would’ve done it.”
“That’s likely... I’m not all that worried about it myself.”
“But why did he send it here...? Could it just have been a random place he was asking for help from?”
“Don’t those messages go everywhere?”
“I don’t know much about those machines,” I shrugged. “At first I thought maybe he’d been here in the office, but then I realized it was from Lebron, to here. I’m so damned nervous, Logan, I’ve got knots in my stomach.”
“Water please! I’m thirsty!” the voice shouted again from outside.
“Ah tis nothing to worry over I think. They’ve likely accidentally sent it here or perhaps it was completely unrelated.”
“I don’t know, Logan.. Maybe I’m just paranoid.”
“Well if you need my help in the moment, you just send me a message and I’ll be here.”
“I appreciate that, Logan... I miss you and Adder and Jake and... And Chels and Gramps and...”
“Yes, things have changed so much. I rarely even go into my own office because I’m the only one there.”
“I heard about the saloon fire...”
“Aye, there is a huge one built in its place.”
“I guess I should get some sleep. You REALLY don’t think we’re in danger here?”
“It’s my hope that we aren’t. Alright well i’ll let you get to bed Miss Paige. I’m only a telegram away.”
“Thanks for coming over, Logan. I’ve missed you.”
“Of course.. anytime. Get some rest now alright?”
I nodded to Logan and headed upstairs. I barely lay down before I heard a knock on the door and went back downstairs. I opened the door and heard Bravo shouting from down the street to the man calling for water. I saw Day standing at the door and he asked where the jail was. I told him that he could find it around the corner and that he could follow all the shouting. I headed back inside and went to bed.
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